Search - Amorphis :: The Karelian Isthmus

Imaginative epic death metal

death metal and black metal | Austin, TX | 02/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cut from the simplest of forms, this album shapes basic songs into intense small narratives of events in a Finnish national epic. Melodic but thunderous death metal riffing surges on the beat and transitions smoothly between passages which have to some degree musical "profundity," in that they resemble that of which they are sung with a grace and integrity. Although much of these songs show the youth of the band at the time, as a whole the achievement of this album is an insightful and intense portrayal of combat and passion as one and the same."

A strong and simple death metal album

scskowron | North Brookfield, MA, USA | 06/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this Amorphis album thinking it was going to be like their later, more progressive and diverse releases. I was quite shocked to find out that it was a dark death metal album, although I was pleasantly surprised! This is a very dark and heavy metal album that is both simple and talented. I am quite pleased with this early style that Amorphis had. The guitar riffs are definitely the highlight of the album, having a dark and heavy tone reminiscent of Celtic Frost. After the great atmospheric acoustic track "Karelia", there is no let up on the relentless death metal attack. The album also diverts into more of a doomy and slow sound, although the elements of early death metal - complete with the low growls of Tomi Kivusaari - remain. It is a concept album of some sort of war - I believe it is a Finnish folk tale although it sounds like a tale of the Crusades. My favorite song is "Vulgar Necrolatry", a fast paced canticle praising necromance. The bonus tracks are pretty good but I would be just as happy without them.Overall I recommend "The Karelian Isthmus" to anyone who is looking for a dark death metal album, but isn't seeking anything excessively brutal."

It's unfair of me to be disappointed but I am

Adrian Stumpp | Ogden, Utah | 06/27/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Amorphis' debut album, The Karelian Isthmus, was originally issued with the tag "Purveyors of Fine Grind", which is ultimately a misnomer; this is not in the loosest sense of the word deathgrind; it is well crafted mid-paced death metal from start to finish. Slower passages are broken up by thrashier blast-beat passages, but instead of bringing home the intensity of the band's doom-laiden atmosphere, it only points out how slow and careful the music is. Too careful, in my opinion. After the fourth or fifth track the band's formula becomes all too predictable and the cd has yet to keep my interest well enough to listen to the whole thing in a single sitting. The primary faults are the songs are too formulaic, too long, without enough going on to justify song lengths and the albums overall length (over an hour). The "Privilege of Evil" EP packaged at the end of the reissue is raw demo material consisting primarily of songs from the full-length, and is worth missing. To sum up, I'm glad I have this album, as Amorphis display a sound here that I have yet to hear elsewhere, a kind of epic, atmospheric deathchurner. However, it's not one I listen to often, and never all the way through."